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What We’re Listening To

Katy Perry at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. Photo courtesy of Philip Nelson under the Creative Commons License.

Pop music queen Katy Perry performed her newest single Sunday at the annual Grammy Awards – a star-studded performance accompanied by alien costumes and sky-high stunts. This track seems to be a post-marriage anthem for the recently divorced singer, with a powerful message that falls in line with Perry’s assumed struggle to maintain her identity and sense of self through her highly public divorce. Though it has the same upbeat melody of her other hits, the meaning behind her words feels more genuine. With the new single already ranked number one on iTunes, Perry seems to be back and thriving.

Up-and-coming 25-year-old American singer Lana Del Rey released her major label debut in January, titled “Born To Die.” Though the album received mixed reviews, it’s hard to ignore this woman’s edgy sound and pronounced talent. Del Rey captivates listeners with her sultry voice and sex appeal from the very beginning in the title track of the album. Del Rey seems to be telling a story with the moral “all good things come to an end” in her second single from the album, which is accompanied by a racy video depicting Del Rey with a tattooed lover. Although she may seem like any other Top 40 artist, this single is unforgettable and completely fresh in comparison to all of the other mainstream artists.

The recent passing of music icon Whitney Houston brought a shocking realization for me when many of my friends said they were unfamiliar with her music. In tribute to her unparalleled talent and soaring voice, I’ve been listening to one of her greatest hits and one of my personal favorite songs of hers, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).” This 1987 hit single has the ability to lift you out of your seat and give you a burst of energy no matter what you’re feeling. Although Houston had a troubled life full of hardship and drug abuse, I prefer to remember her through this dance anthem that sheds light on her cheery and upbeat personality. Though the beautiful and talented Houston is no longer with us, this song helps bring her spirit back.